MAKE no mistake, it is a case of all systems go when it comes to Willie Mullins’ bid to be crowned champion National Hunt trainer in Britain for the first time.

It can often feel as though the British jumps season tapers off in intensity after the Aintree Grand National Festival but the conclusion of the 2023/’24 campaign promises to be a belter through Mullins’ unmistakable presence towards the summit of the championship standings.

A win for I Am Maximus in the Liverpool highlight last weekend put Ireland’s 17-time champion fractionally in front of Dan Skelton and Paul Nicholls in the British title race, and Ladbrokes make him the 1/4 favourite to fend off the home trainers before the end of the season at Sandown on Saturday of next week. Paddy Power went a step further and announced yesterday it had decided to pay out early on all bets for Mullins to win the British championship.

All in all, it is a sensational position for Mullins to be in, while also still more than €1.6 million in front of his nearest pursuer in Ireland.

The clearest example of just how seriously Mullins is taking this championship challenge is the fact he sends 18 runners to Ayr today. Before this, he has had five runners at the west Scotland track throughout his entire 36-year career.

Four of those came when the Closutton maestro was chasing the title in 2016, drawing a blank at this meeting and ultimately losing out by less than £100,000 to Paul Nicholls, who recorded a four-timer on the same day, including the Scottish National. Mullins certainly means business this time around and has a host of entries in Britain in the coming days between Ffos Las, Ludlow, Perth, Uttoxeter, Warwick and Huntingdon before the Sandown finale.

Feature squad

While there are plenty of useful Mullins runners in the Coral-backed Scottish Grand National (3.35), this can’t be described as his ‘A’ team by any means. Mr Incredible has never looked short of ability but there remains the touch of an enigma about him, Spanish Harlem hasn’t yet lived up to early expectations, MacDermott needs to cope with a 16lb hike for his Fairyhouse Easter Festival win, Ontheropes has looked out of sorts since returning from a 699-day layoff this season, while We’llhavewan has his stamina to prove from 5lb out of the handicap and Klarc Kent requires a career-best.

What’s more, Mullins will have to defy history to a certain extent. Not since Huntsman in 1869 has an Irish raider managed to plunder the Scottish National. That said, if anyone is capable of ending the Irish hoodoo in the £200,000 staying handicap chase, it is probably Mullins.

This season has already seen him smash through the 100-winner mark at the Cheltenham Festival, set a new record for most winners trained over jumps in a single season in Ireland and - as flagged up this week by Kevin Blake - he is quickly closing in on Dermot Weld’s total for becoming the winning-most trainer in Irish racing history.

One race Mullins will probably feel disappointed if not able to win today is the Tennent’s Novices’ Hurdle (4.45). In Martin Pipe third Quai De Bourbon and impressive Punchestown maiden hurdle winner Billericay Dickie, he has two quality bullets to fire.

What spice this Mullins invasion is giving to the closing stages of the season. Let the games begin.